Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Actiniaria

Suborder: Nynantheae

Family: Actiniidae

Scientific name: Urticina felina

 

Norwegian: fjæresjørose

(Vingsand - Sør-Trøndelag / 12 meters / 9.19.2003)

Distribution: This is perhaps the most common anemone along the Norwegian coast. It can be found on any depth, from the low water mark and down to 200 meters. It prefers hard bottoms.

Characteristics: The Dahlia anemone comes in a wide variety of colors, as indicated on the pictures. The body is usually red or green. In contrast to the similar, but not so common, Urticina eques, its body is covered by warts. Around the mouth up to 160 short tentacles catch food like shrimps and small fishes.

All pictures: